Your local AAA team is at the forefront of inclusive group travel by offering AAA Travel with Pride. This past winter, AAA Travel with Pride presented its first trip: A group tour to Costa Rica for an unforgettable tropical adventure! AAA Travel with Pride is led by Christopher Goerss, AAA group travel product and business development specialist. Goerss, a seasoned traveler himself, shares memories from the Costa Rica getaway, a trip he calls “the most amazing trip I’ve ever been on!”

Travelers embarked from airports in Buffalo and Syracuse for the 10-night stay. After the guests settled in, they gathered for a casual get-together.

“AAA Travel with Pride was created to be inclusive of everyone. We had solos and couples on this trip. We had members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as straight allies,” Goerss said. “Travel with Pride trips start with a welcome dinner where we take time to get to know our fellow travelers.”

The itinerary included a combination of adventurous and relaxing outings, with plenty of personal time for exploration.

One of the more thrilling activities included a visit to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, a region consistently covered in clouds due to unique atmospheric conditions within the tropical mountains.

“There are seven suspension bridges that lead to the Monteverde Cloud Forest,” Goerss said. “The tour group went up all seven bridges, and from there you can zipline or take a gondola down the mountain.”

Other optional activities included visits to Costa Rica’s famous waterfalls and a whitewater rafting excursion.

Of course, all that activity can work up an appetite. Members of the tour group were able to indulge in Costa Rica’s cuisine with 18 unique meals.

“Costa Rica has great food, and everything is grown on location. The freshness was unbelievable. The flavors were unique but not overpowering, and not too spicy,” Goerss said.

One of the more memorable meals was enjoyed at the home of Nidia and Gerardo Fonseca, who hosted the travel group for a lunch excursion.

“They own a palm plantation, and they showed us how they harvest the heart of palm,” he said. “She cooked us lunch and told us stories of their life in Costa Rica. That was a highlight for many of us.”

Travelers enjoyed a first-hand look at exotic animals like crocodiles, monkeys, lizards, and hundreds of colorful birds. Iguanas could be spotted in trees, changing colors from green to orange as part of their mating season.

The accommodations were as unique as the surroundings, including modern lodging with natural hot springs heated by the massive Arenal Volcano, as well as an off-grid hotel on the water that was only accessible by way of a 1.5-hour jungle cruise.

TRAVEL WITH PRIDE

With the debut of AAA Travel with Pride, Goerss is proud to share his joy of travel while building an inclusive travel group focused on acceptance and fostering a supportive community. “Travel with Pride vacations are planned with the traveler’s comfort and safety in mind, only visiting destinations that are LGBTQ+ friendly,” Goerss said.

JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT JOURNEY... EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Join AAA Travel with Pride for our Christmas Markets Tour of Europe scheduled for Nov. 24-Dec. 1, 2022. Enjoy the merriest of holidays with candles, carols, snowflakes, and stollen in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland!

Enjoy the wonder of the season as you wander past heaping market stalls and pay tribute to old-world traditions, local craftsmanship and mesmerizing city backdrops. This trip will visit Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg, the Marienplatz in Munich, the Golden Roof in Innsbruck, and the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge in Lucerne.

Christmas Markets Tour

The Christmas Market Tour includes:

• 7-nights hotel accommodations
• 11 meals: 1 welcome reception, 7 breakfasts, 3 dinners
• Deluxe transportation on tour
• Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
• All restaurant gratuities
• All hotel tips, charges, and local taxes
• Baggage handling (1 piece per person)
• Services and Gratuities of an Expert Travel Director and Professional Driver
• Services and Gratuities of a Professional AAA Tour Manager (Airfare additional) Call or visit to book your next group vacation, including AAA Travel with Pride options

Looking to share a travel experience with AAA Travel With Pride? See our upcoming group vacations below!

AAA Travel With Pride